News and Analysis
Skai Says “Yes!” Celeste Has the Answers for Commerce Media
U.S. ad spending on commerce media will surpass $100B by 2028. What is commerce media? Marketers use data from consumer purchases and browsing habits to improve targeting, personalization, and overall campaign effectiveness. After all, if someone is looking for baby clothes, they may also shop for diapers, cribs, and bottles. Leveraging behaviors to boost same-category […]
This Brand Won’t Get Stale!
What brand? Cracker Barrel, of course! Any MULO (multi-location) brand can all get a bit soggy or rancid with time. However, savvy brands must get ahead of the aging process and bring in fresh talent to keep their traffic and revenue appealing. Cracker Barrel, which was founded in 1969, is leaning into that trend and […]
IHOP & Applebee’s Serve Up Huge News
From hot cakes to happy hour, a new co-branded restaurant in Texas now gives diners a wide range of food options. Applebee’s and IHOP (owned by the same operator) announced this new concept last month. Those who love breakfast for dinner and power-eaters who want to start the day with a Bloody Mary and a […]
Commentary
Co-Op Advertising is Surging in Popularity — Here’s Why
Shopping isn’t what it used to be. Social media has not only impacted shopping, but it also altered the trajectory of supporting infrastructure like co-op advertising. Rather than visiting stores in-person, casually searching for products on Google, or sifting through email newsletters from their favorite retail brands, the majority of consumers today are using social […]
What CTV Can Learn From OOH Advertising Measurement
What if I told you (in Lawrence Fishbourne’s best Morpheus voice) that in some circles, OOH measurement is, in fact, more advanced than CTV’s equivalent? And that CTV has a lot to learn from its much older, but just as rapidly innovating, advertising brethren. Billboards, bus shelters, and airports in the public space are getting […]
Building a Successful Experiential Marketing Campaign on a Budget
For many businesses, the most significant disadvantage of an experiential marketing campaign is the price tag. Depending on the event you plan, the number of guests you invite, and the location you choose, the costs associated with your event can ring up to tens of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, I can fill you in on […]
Latest Posts
30K Feet OOH! Targeted Airline Advertising
United Airlines just announced a new advertising program, targeting personalized ads to flyers based on demographics. Advertising to a captive audience on planes is nothing new. The original airline magazines and catalogs were popular back in the day. Pre-wi-fi, all we had to do was read paper media and watch and listen to whatever was […]
Connecting Retail Media Networks with Custom Audiences
Retail media networks (RMNs) are becoming a dominant force in the advertising world, propelled by the valuable first-party data they generate. This rise, however, also presents unintended challenges: the creation of walls around this data to protect consumer privacy and the retailer’s competitive advantage, resulting in a fragmented view of consumers. While safeguarding privacy is […]
Pump It Up! C-Store Innovations & News
The convenience store (C-store) is a MULO (multi-location) retailer we often take for granted. Most of us have stopped along the road for a hygiene break, a fuel refill (gas or electric), coffee, and perhaps even a snack and frosty beverage. Urban and suburban dwellers often rely on their neighborhood 24-hour MULO store for late-night […]
The Robot in Your Dressing Room
Walmart and Amazon are leading the charge in launching new technologies that use AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) to enable prospective shoppers to “try on” everything from cosmetics to eyewear to fashion. Called “the next step in retail evolution,” virtual try-on technology: May reduce online shopping returns because consumers can better understand how an […]
Cookie Plug: Baking With a New Recipe in a Crowded Space
Last year, the global cookie market generated approximately $40B. That’s a lot of dough! But “oven racks” (number of brands) is growing! Enter Todd Saperstein, a Phoenix-area franchisee of a relatively new cookie brand, Cookie Plug. He’s not new to running a franchise brand, having owned five Dickey’s Barbeque Pits in Oregon for ten years. He […]
Freshpet Sells Food with a Side of CRM
Anyone who has cared for a pet knows that dogs and cats relate differently to their humans. For instance, a dog might greet a familiar human at the door like an excited paparazzo about to snap a picture. A cat, on the other hand, barely acknowledges humans. Yet, human caretakers of cats and dogs are […]
5 MULO Retail & Food Brands Who Are Trend-Spotting and Innovating
The most successful MULO (multi-location) retail and food brands are often those that know their core customers and are continuously innovating to meet their needs. However, the winners usually stay on top of (and ahead of) consumer trends and develop products, offers, and services that meet the needs of new segments without losing brand fans. […]
The MULO Dozen: May Brands in Review
The biggest news for the month of May is the announcement of the return of Street Fight LIVE! More than a decade ago, it’s original founders created this highly interactive leadership event as the place to be for brands, agencies, and technology providers. They knew that the screen (large and small) would be the gateway to […]
Will “Sneakerheads” Dash to Foot Locker’s New Store Concept?
The average American owns about 12 pairs of shoes. Many of those are sneakers. Sneakers represent about $80B in sales worldwide, and that spending appears to be on the upswing. Once reserved primarily for athletes, sneakers are now a wardrobe staple and are selected based on purpose, comfort, fashion statement, and various other factors. Foot […]
How Generative AI is Propelling Local Advertising
The digital advertising landscape has never been more dynamic or more complex. As small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) grapple with these changes and challenges, they also face opportunities for growth. Generative AI technologies are empowering marketers with intuitive, powerful, and personalized advertising strategies, helping them to save time and effort and compete like never before. […]
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